Slain Greenland police chief had one last order before retirement

GREENLAND — Just days before his retirement, Police Chief Michael Maloney told town officials he had one last order of business before he called it a career, Town Administrator Karen Anderson said Friday morning.

GREENLAND — Just days before his retirement, Police Chief Michael Maloney told town officials he had one last order of business before he called it a career, Town Administrator Karen Anderson said Friday morning.

Anderson, who joined many other town officials at Town Hall Friday morning, speculated Maloney was talking about the drug raid at the Post Road residence of Cullen Mutrie, the man police say shot and killed Maloney during the raid.

“Selectmen asked was there anything they needed to know about or anything going on that needed to be relayed to the new chief, or they should be concerned with,” said Anderson. “He said there was one more matter he could not talk about, that he needed to take care of before he goes.”

Maloney, 48, was only days away from retirement.

Town Clerk Marge Morgan said she would often have coffee with Maloney in the morning and discuss current events.

“He'd stop in and get the mail and we'd have a cup of coffee together,” Morgan said.

Maloney had said little about his retirement plans, saying only that he was looking forward to time off to spend with his family, said Morgan.

“He was a well liked by his department and well respected in the community,” she said. “He was very visible.”

Both Morgan and Anderson agreed Maloney's death was one of the worst tragedies to hit the small town in recent history.

“It's absolutely shocking,” said Morgan. “It's like it's not happening.”

Robert Arnold, a Portsmouth native now of Greenland, said he officiated the 2011 marriage of Maloney's daughter. "I was just invited to his retirement party and now I'm pondering his funeral," he said Friday. "There are very few good cops anymore and I feel he was one of them. What really makes me mad is that he's not going to see justice."

A meeting has been planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at Greenland Central School to reassure residents that the community is safe, Anderson said.

Sometime early Friday morning, the flag in front of Greenland Town Hall was lowered to half-staff. Town officials remained at Town Hall early Friday morning as the small Seacoast community of about 3,500 people began to come to grips with the loss of their police chief.

“Today in Greenland, our hearts are broken. We have lost our wonderful police chief, and a good friend. This horrific tragedy has put a hole through the center of our community, and we are in shock over the loss to our town.

“We mourn the loss of our beloved Chief Michael Maloney and my heart and prayers go out to his family, as well as to the other officers who were injured last night. As a community, we will join together to support these families and show our strength in overcoming this terrible blow. Now is a time for healing and I would ask everyone to keep these brave men and the residents of Greenland in your thoughts and prayers.”

— N.H. House Deputy Speaker Pam Tucker, of Greenland

“My thoughts and prayers, along with those of my wife Morgan, are with the family of Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney. Chief Maloney was a beloved figure in Greenland and throughout the New Hampshire law enforcement community. He will be deeply missed and our condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues.

“We also continue our prayers for the four officers who were injured in the incident: Detective Eric Kulberg of the University of New Hampshire Police Department, Detective Gregory Turner of the Dover Police Department, Detective Scott Kukesh of the Newmarket Police Department, and Detective Jeremiah Murphy of the Rochester Police Department. We are hopeful for their full recovery.

“Thursday's incident reminds us of the dedication displayed by all of New Hampshire's first responders. Day in and day out, they serve us with the upmost professionalism and dignity. In the wake of yesterday's tragic events, we remind all members of our law enforcement community that all Granite Staters stand behind them in full support and appreciation of their bravery and sacrifice.”

— U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta

“The terrible tragedy in Greenland last night sadly reminds us of the sacrifices made by public safety officials every day to keep our communities safe. Our hearts and prayers go out to Chief Michael Maloney's family and to wounded officers Detective Gregory Turner, Detective Eric Kulberg, Detective Scott Kukesh, Detective Jeremiah Murphy, and their families. I join the people of New Hampshire in standing behind the Granite State's entire law enforcement community during this extremely difficult time.”

— Congressman Charles Bass

“This has been an unspeakable tragedy for the residents of Greenland, and all of us across New Hampshire will come together to offer that community the help and support that they will so desperately need over the upcoming days and weeks. Having been through a terrible tragedy in Mont Vernon several years ago, I know just how well New Hampshire residents unite quickly to begin the healing process and to rebuild the fabric of a community that has suffered such a heartbreaking loss.

“Today, our thoughts and our prayers are with the families and friends of the police who were affected by this senseless violence. When an officer falls, an important part of all of us is lost. Every family deserves to have their member serving in law enforcement return home at the end of a shift. Chief Maloney will not be returning and we will continue to be reminded of the honor he brought to his public service and his family's loss as in future days we see police officers in service to their communities. The lives of the Chief's survivors and those of the families of the other injured officers have been forever changed in a matter of seconds, while these brave men were doing their job to keep us all safe.

“My heart also goes out to our Deputy Speaker, Pam Tucker, who was a personal friend of her police chief. I know, though, that Pam will be a leader in the community in the coming weeks and months to get her community back on its feet, and I have offered her whatever assistance I can on Greenland's behalf.

“While I might have had some disagreements with our Attorney General, any issues we might have fall aside as we stand united in our efforts to help Greenland, the entire Seacoast, and the law enforcement community move past this tragedy. Today, our state government stands as one in our efforts to support Greenland and our law enforcement community.”

— N.H. House Speaker William O'Brien

“On behalf of the entire state Senate, we want to send our sympathies to the Maloney's and the families of the other officers who were injured. New Hampshire is a small state filled with close-knit towns like Greenland so a tragic event like this touches us all. The loss and wounding of police officers is a painful reminder of the dangers our brave men and women in blue face each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are suffering from the Greenland tragedy and we look towards healing for the entire community.”

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and I join citizens from across New Hampshire in extending my deepest condolences to Chief Maloney's family, the Greenland Police Department, and the New Hampshire law enforcement community. Chief Maloney was a dedicated public servant who was devoted to the town he served, and he will be remembered for his heroic actions while aiding a fellow officer.

“My thoughts are also with the four brave officers injured in the line of duty, and I pray for their full recovery and for their families. May the people of the Greenland community draw strength and comfort from one another as they cope with this senseless and horrific tragedy. This is a sad reminder that New Hampshire's law enforcement officers risk their own safety every day to keep us safe."

— U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte

“I am saddened by last night's news regarding the passing of Chief Michael Maloney in the line of duty. He made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the people he protected, and his death is yet another reminder of how valuable our law enforcement community is. I had the pleasure of getting to know and work with Chief Maloney, who was a great leader and role model in Greenland. He was an integral part of the community and I found that his door was always open. He will be missed greatly. Please keep him, his family, his friends, and the people of Greenland in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days".

“In addition, please keep Officers Gregory Turner, Eric Kulberg, Scott Kukesh, and Jeremiah Murphy - who were injured in the line of duty - in your thoughts; as well as our entire law enforcement community in New Hampshire, who protect us every day.”

— N.H. Sen. Nancy Stiles

"We are devastated by this senseless tragedy. We've lost a dedicated chief in Greenland. In addition, officers from the University of New Hampshire, the Dover Police Department, the Newmarket Police Department, and the Rochester Police Department were injured. From that list it's easy to see the close working relationships among the law enforcement communities in New Hampshire. And so, all of us feel a loss, all of us feel angry, all of us will look for answers. In the weeks and months ahead, we must all grieve together, heal together, and rebuild together.

"On a personal note, I want to express my sympathy to Chief Maloney's family. Having recently lost a close family member, I understand the void that is felt by those close to him. My family supports the Chief's family, our Greenland neighbors, and all law enforcement in New Hampshire."

— Portsmouth Mayor Eric Spear

Honorable members, staff, and friends.

Please extend your thoughts and prayers to the family and community of Greenland police chief Michael Maloney who was killed in the line of duty last night while assisting the NH Attorney General Drug Task Force with the execution of a search warrant in Greenland. Mike was a highly respected police Chief who had 26 years of service with the NH law enforcement community and was only days from retirement. He served with honor and will be missed. It’s a very sad day for the Greenland community. Four other officers were also shot during that event from the Dover, Newmarket, University of NH and Rochester police departments who are part of the drug task force and are expected to recover from those gunshot wounds. The suspect in this case is believed to have killed himself and his female companion sometime after the shooting. Their bodies were discovered after a robot entered the residence at about 2 A.M. The NH Attorney General stated that he believes that this incident is the largest single event having that many police officers shot here in NH.

I had the extreme pleasure of knowing Mike Maloney, had the utmost respect for him and had worked with him in the past.

We should all give thanks that we have brave men and women who are willing to serve in the NH law enforcement community each and every day and are willing to lay down their lives to make the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of our State and its communities. This incident exemplifies the dangers of police work and why I’m proud and respectful of our law enforcement officers throughout this State who are protecting us each and every day.